Switchboard implement



-Aug. 8, 1944,

G. M. WILHELM SWITCHBOARD IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GEORGE M. WILHELM BY ATTORNEY.

Paul ATIUIOT Aug. 8, 1944.

G. M. W'ILHELM SWITCHBOARD IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

SEORGE I"I.WILHELI"1.

Paul A. Tallmf'.

ATTORNEY- Patented Aug. 8 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce George M. Wilhelm, New York, N. Y.

Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,609

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an implement to apply a coating of oil or other liquid to the plugs of a switch board and has among its purposes and objects to provide:

A compact applicator for coating plugs of plug in cords and their mating panel holes.

A device to coat electric plugs.

A device to lubricate electric plugs.

A device to reduce radiation from plugs and other terminal contacts.

A quick, clean, handy applicator for switch board operation and conditioning.

I accomplish these and other objects by the construction herein set forth which embodies the principles of my invention and which is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which: i i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the operation of my device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my device.

Fig. 3 is a section of the plunger.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the centerline.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a simplified form.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the plunger spring.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of theplunger.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the plunger.

' Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the plunger.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the filling end housing.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the dispensing end i housing.

Fig.'12 is an elevation of the dispensing end housing.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and in the specification to follow.

The plugs and jacks of a switch board, and particularly the P. B.X exchanges used in telephony, have been greatly improved by reducing and, in some cases, eliminating extraneous sounds by the frequent use of my device.

I have herein disclosed and described in detall the preferred construction embodying the underlying principles of my invention. To those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, after a study of this disclosure, it is assumed that modifications may be suggested or apparent without departing from the principles of my invention and the appended claims which set it forth.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a housing I having an upper end 2 and lower end 3 detachably secured to each other and thereby permitting access to the interior and the removal and replacement of the parts, comprising (c1. 222 12s) I the plunger 4 and spring 5, as well as the abnular surface I 3 for unscrewing and handling as well as a screw driver slot I4 for further tightening or loosening the plug, V

1 The plunger 4 is provided with an enlarged upper end l5 having a hemispherical under surface l6 which conforms to the lower end of the chamber I2. A funnel shaped interior I! is provided in the end l5 having a perforated cover l8 upon which the lower end [9 of the spring 5 rests. The upper end 20 of the spring rests against the top 2| of the chamber 2 and is held in place by the boss 22 which surrounds the threaded opening 9; the end 20 of the spring receiving the boss 22. The interior I! of the end l5 of the plunger is provided with a duct 23 within the movable guide and stem 24 suitable to discharge the liquid from the interior IT and also from the chamber 12. The upper end l5 and the stem 24 comprise the plunger or moving part of my device.

The'flow and control of the liquid is governed by the pressure on the end 25 of the stem 24 which overcomes the spring 5 and squeezes the absorbent material 6, thus causing the liquid to enter the interior I1 and duct 23.

5 The end 25 travels upwardly in the guide opening 26 of the lower end 3 of the housing and the electric plug and boss to be coated with the liquid also enters the guide opening. I

In some cases, absorbent material may be added in the interior I! and duct 23 of the plunger, and the lower end 3, in some cases, may be provided with a chamber 21 and a liquid absorbent liner '28 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings which shows a modification particularly suitable for'a liquid which is thin and too free flowing for the construction shown in Fig. 5. Around the absorbent liner 28 and in the chamber 21 absorbent material may be added to reduce the free flow of liquid through the liner.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a modification of the plunger in which the stem 29 is provided with a tapered duct 30 to better hold absorbent material and at the lower end of said duct, a counter bore is provided which serves to hold the material against being forced upwardly when the stem is pressed against the boss or plug of the switch board. The absorbent material in and around the stem acts as a swab as well as to retard the flow of the coating liquid.

The enlarged end of the plunger and the stem are preferably so fitted in the upper and lower ends of the housing that an annular passage SI for liquid is provided around the plunger to the free end of the stem, thereby providing a flow of liquid squeezed by the movement of the plunger through the duct and also in the passage tracting means moving said plunger in one direction and absorbent material above and compressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressure I applied to the lower end by the electric contact around the stem to coat the end and around the end of the plug and/or boss and its sides. The

liquid coating is applied to the jack and all con,

tacts each time the plug A is inserted into the apertures B of the switchboard C.

The operation of my device is simple and ,requires little skill on the part of the switch board operator to {insure the desired results. Frequent small applications of the liquid coating are desirable and thus compactness and cleanliness are necessary. I

Mydevice may be placed in any position close at hand when not in use withoutspilling or covering up to prevent dust from sticking on the oily liquid used.

The detailed construction herein disclosed to illustratean embodiment of my invention may be modified without departing from the underlying I principles set forth in the appended claims.

larged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of saidabsorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressureapplied to the lower end by the electric contact compreses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact.

2. In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper and extending upward into and movable in "said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means moving said plunger in one direction and absorbent material above and compressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said-absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem,'whereby pressure-applied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said retracting means comprising a spring having one end resting on :said plunger and th opposite end against the top of said chamber.

.3. In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having ,a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within-said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward-into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger .re-

compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said enlarged upper end having a cupped interior receiving liquid from said absorbent material.

4. In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movabl and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retractingmeans moving said plunger in one direction and absorbent material above and compressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end ofsaid stem, whereby pressure applied to the lower end'by the electric contact compresses said" absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said enlarged upper end having a cupped interior receiving liquid from said absorbent material, and a perforated plate covering said cupped interior, said plate compressing said absorbent material by the upward movement of saidplunger.

"5. In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means movingsa-id plunger in one direction and absorbent material above and compressed by said plunger and-said enlarged upper end when moved 'in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressure applied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said enlarged upper end having a cupped interior receiving liquid from said absorbent material, and a perforated plate covering said cupped interior, said plate compresing said absorbent material by the upward movement of said plunger, said retracting means comprising aspiring having one end resting on said perforated plate.

6. In a device :for coating electric contacts, a

movable and confined within said :lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means moving said plungerin one direc tion and absorbentmaterial above and compressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent'material through said duct to the lower .end ,of said stem,whereby'pressureapplied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said upper chamber being detachably secured to said lower end to permit the insertion of said enlarged upper end and the removal of said absorbent material.

'7. In a device for coating electric contacts, a

housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means moving said plunger in one di rection and absorbent material above and cornpressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressure applied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said upper chamber being detachably secured to said lower end to permit the insertion of said enlarged upper end and the removal of said absorbent material, and filling means independent of said detachable securement of said chamber to said lower end for liquid to said absorbent material in said chamber.

8.In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber and a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means moving said plunger in one direction and absorbent material above and compressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to for-cc liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressure applied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said lower end ha ing a chamber for absorbent material.

9. In a device for coating electric contacts, a housing having an upper chamber and a lower end, a plunger having a stem, said stem slidably movable and confined within said lower end, said plunger having an enlarged upper end extending upward into and movable in said chamber a duct connecting both ends of said plunger retracting means moving said plunger in one direction and absorbent material above cornpressed by said plunger and said enlarged upper end when moved in the other direction to force liquid out of said absorbent material through said duct to the lower end of said stem, whereby pressure applied to the lower end by the electric contact compresses said absorbent material to force liquid onto said contact, said lower end having a chamber for absorbent material, and a porous liner around said stem between said lower chamber and said stem permitting liquid to pass from the absorbent material in said lower chamber to said stem.

GEORGE M. WILHELM. 

